The Bear Essentials Food Pantry at the University of Central Arkansas received a $12,500 grant from the Kroger Co. Foundation, which will allow them to purchase larger quantities of food to supply students experiencing food insecurity.
The Kroger Foundation grant is the largest donation the pantry has received since it was established in 2014.
“This grant could not have come at a better time,” said Wendy Holbrook, UCA assistant vice president for student affairs.
In November 2022, the Bear Essentials Pantry helped a total of 329 clients who made 631 visits in that month alone. The pantry receives its food supply from the Arkansas Food Bank which, in recent months, has been low on supplies. To supplement stock, pantry personnel purchases additional items from grocery stores to supplement, and with retail prices continuing to skyrocket, the extra supplies can leave the Bear Essentials Pantry in a tough position.
Pantry clients receive supplies that include ramen, spaghetti, pasta sauce, macaroni and cheese, soup, fruit, peanut butter and jelly. The pantry also supplies other food and personal hygiene products when they are available. When looking towards the future, Holbrook hopes to continue increasing awareness of the Bear Essentials Food Pantry in order to increase donations and, in turn, the amount of food supplied.
It is the pantry’s shared sentiment that students cannot succeed if they’re hungry. With the support of more organizations and more donations, the pantry will be able to ensure that this is not the case, Holbrook said.
by Haley Helton
